But in 1754, he made an important decision to travel to Italy to continue his education and begin his career. The young Johann Christian learned music from his father and older brothers, first in Leipzig and then in Berlin at the Prussian court. He also took another step beyond his father and the rest of the Bach family by converting to the fullness of the Catholic Faith. He moved from the churches and courts of Prussia to theaters and concert halls throughout Europe. Johann Christian branched out beyond his father's accomplishments to stand out in his own right. He also bequeathed it to his heirs, above all his youngest son, Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782). It must remain a mystery, however, why Protestantism's most outstanding sacred artist (some call him "the Fifth Evangelist") dedicated the final three years of his life and all the energies of his declining health to composing the epic, sublime Mass in B Minor.Īt least we can say that the great Bach integrated faith and art in a way that enabled him to discover the ecumenism of beauty.
Indeed, the whole of Christianity has been greatly enriched by Johann Sebastian's prolific output of sacred music in which his musical genius and his own deep commitment to Christ (as a Lutheran) are both expressed. It is not some secret story (or speculation) about the man most people associate with the name "Bach," i.e., Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), who is ranked among the greatest composers of all time.
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